AUBURN — For the first time since arriving at Auburn, Malik Willis’ development is on the biggest stage possible in the context of spring football.

With returning starting quarterback Jarrett Stidham out for at least the first two weeks of spring practice and possibly more following offseason left shoulder surgery, Willis has become the starter by default with the first-team offense. The goal for the Auburn coaching staff over these 15 allotted spring practices is getting the “by default” out of the unofficial title and get the sophomore to start owning the position.

“He really is taking a step forward and he looks like a starter out there,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said Saturday.

“He actually looks like an SEC quarterback when he’s out there. You can tell he has the total control of that group, everybody listens to him and he can make some great throws.”

Auburn linebacker Deshaun Davis on quarterback Malik Willis.

Malzahn’s comments are not to be misinterpreted that a potential quarterback battle is brewing at Auburn. Stidham has established himself as one of the premier talents at the position in the Southeastern Conference. However, this month represents Willis’ time to establish the mentality there isn’t a substantial talent dropoff on Auburn’s quarterback depth chart.

“You can tell that Malik has taken that next step, maturity-wise," H-back Chandler Cox said Saturday. “He's really kind of stepped into that role. He's been awesome. He's growing up the way he needs to.”

Malzahn attempted to convince the media Saturday that, by the end of last October, Auburn wasn’t completely dependent on Stidham being healthy for the Tigers to move the ball. With Sean White suspended for the 2017 season opener and dismissed from the program after the second week of the season, Willis was given mop-up duty early to gain the game experience Malzahn craves in his signal callers. This spring is different for Willis as he’s expected to lead the first-team offense for most of the practice sessions as Malzahn and offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey look to find answers to perceived inexperienced holes at offensive line and tailback.

“There's something to be said when you go out there and you're playing with the first group from a quarterback standpoint," Malzahn said. "He has seemed more comfortable. Of course, he should, having a year under his belt. He's done a good job so far with his approach, just the attention to detail. Things are becoming natural for him.”

Lindsey said throughout the 2017 season, which was Willis’ first on campus after enrolling last January, that a long-term plan was being put in place for the 6-foot-1, 202-pound athlete to develop his quarterback skills.

“He’s obviously very talented. He’s getting a better grasp of the offense than he had early on and I think he’s more and more comfortable,” Lindsey said last October. “We’ve been able to get him into some games because we’ve had the lead, which has been really nice, getting him some quality playing time. I think that’s going to pay off, maybe in this season, but for sure down the road.”

Willis, a former three-star prospect from Georgia, was 6-of-7 passing for 45 yards and a touchdown in 2017 but showcased a scrambling ability similar to the skills Stidham brings.

“You know, last year, Malik would have played — especially the second half of the season, we would have felt pretty good that we could have run most of our offense,” Malzahn said. “We've got a lot of confidence in Malik.”

Willis, who as a senior led his Roswell (Georgia) High team to a state title game while passing for 2,562 yards and rushing for 1,033 with 37 total touchdowns, has already begun to sell himself to first-team defensive teammates.

“I think Malik has taken a great step in the right direction,” middle linebacker Deshaun Davis said. “He’s taken advantage of the opportunities to control the No. 1 unit and he actually looks like an SEC quarterback when he’s out there. You can tell he has the total control of that group, everybody listens to him and he can make some great throws.”

In March 2018, the future of the quarterback position is now and it’s named Malik Willis.